"What is it?"
Lin Xingwan didn't hide her eagerness to know the answer, because Zhou Jinbai's fiancée was the first person she had cared so much about in over twenty years.
She was even more troublesome than Lin Shirou, and had never even appeared, yet she had caused Lin Xingwan and Zhou Jinbai to argue twice.
Lin Xingwan couldn't even imagine how she would react if this woman were to appear before her one day.
Would she be utterly defeated, or would she be able to contend with her?
"Wife, do you remember the woman I told you about last time we argued over the bracelet?" Zhou Jinbai didn't answer Lin Xingwan's question immediately, but suddenly brought up the matter of the bracelet.
"I remember."
Zhou Jinbai had said that the woman was very powerful and domineering, and that whatever she wanted, she would get.
At that time, Lin Xingwan had secretly vowed to become stronger so that she could protect the people she wanted to protect.
"The woman who is rumored to be my fiancée, and the one who is married to me, is that woman. I've known her since we were children. She is extremely picky and demands a lot from herself. At first, I quite admired her, but as more and more people thought we should be a couple, I gradually distanced myself from her. I didn't like her, and my friendship with her was purely out of admiration. Since I wasn't going to marry her, I couldn't let people misunderstand forever. So, I moved from Yanjing to Rongcheng. By chance, my grandmother needed rest due to her health, so I took care of her while managing company affairs.
Although the family has always wanted to set us up, I clearly refused and told them. They spread rumors that I was getting married, forcibly tying me to her, which was just a test. I've ignored it all these years. No one can force me to do anything I don't want to do. But now that it has caused you trouble, I will handle it."
After Zhou Jinbai finished speaking, he couldn't help but pinch Lin Xingwan's cheek. "As for my friends, I know you're angry that they deceived you along with me, but it was I who told them not to reveal the truth. You can scold me and hit me; I have no complaints. But I need to explain one thing: the nightclub photo on your phone, that man isn't me, and I've never met that woman. The reason she sent you these things is simply because she understood human psychology.
Whenever Zhou Jinbai thought of those messages and photos, he felt so foolish. Such a clumsy attempt at alienation had actually succeeded.
After listening to Zhou Jinbai's words, Lin Xingwan couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
If all the truth was as Zhou Jinbai said, then the relationship between her and Zhou Jinbai was too fragile.
That woman, whom she had never met but who was so skilled, had played on the worst aspects of human nature.
"She's really too amazing. I feel like I'm no match for her at all." Lin Xingwan was speaking the truth. Faced with such a formidable love rival, she didn't know whether to be happy or worried.
"She was destined to be the next successor of the family from birth, trained from childhood as an heir. At fifteen, she was already managing the family with elders. After so many years, she naturally cannot be compared to her peers because their starting points are not on the same level."
Zhou Jinbai offered his honest opinion. "It is precisely because of her family and her capabilities that the family has always wanted me to be with her, so that we could form a powerful alliance."
"Can I see what she looks like?" Lin Xingwan asked bravely.
Zhou Jinbai directly took Lin Xingwan's phone, opened the browser, typed in a name, and many photos appeared.
When Lin Xingwan saw the woman in the photos, her heart grew even heavier.
In every frame, the woman in the photos was stunningly beautiful, and even her every smile and frown exuded an unparalleled confidence and nobility.
She was a true daughter of heaven, a woman who made Lin Xingwan feel inferior at first glance.
At such a young age, she was worth hundreds of billions and managed half of the family's businesses, with every sector progressing steadily.
And her?
Her most prideful achievement, Top Entertainment, wasn't even a tenth of the smallest company under that woman's control.
In terms of temperament, education, ability, and family background, Lin Xingwan couldn't compare to her in any aspect.
She didn't even have the right to be jealous of such a woman; she could only look up to her with admiration.
She had once pondered a question: what kind of woman would be worthy of Dongfang Junze?
Upon seeing this woman, the answer seemed to have become clear.
This feeling was not good at all.
"Compared to her, I feel utterly useless." Lin Xingwan mumbled, her voice very small.
For the first time in her life, she regretted being so ordinary.
As soon as Lin Xingwan finished speaking, Zhou Jinbai tapped her head. "How can you be useless? In my eyes, my wife is the most outstanding person in the world! While she has surpassed her peers by a long shot, it's not just her personal effort but also her family's upbringing. If my wife had received the same upbringing as her since childhood, she would definitely be more outstanding than her."
Zhou Jinbai was telling the truth, but to Lin Xingwan, it sounded like comfort.
With such a terrifying love rival, Lin Xingwan felt that her previous anger was so childish.
To have her take action against herself should be considered an honor.
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault for overthinking." Lin Xingwan regretted it immensely. If she had known the truth earlier, she should have shown Zhou Jinbai the messages and photos long ago.
They wouldn't have misunderstood each other for such a long time.
"An apology with just words is useless. Doesn't my wife need to show some tangible proof?"
Zhou Jinbai was a carnivore. His wife's verbal apologies were like dried grass to him, tasteless even when chewed.
"Tangible proof? What is it?" Lin Xingwan frowned, looking at Zhou Jinbai in confusion.
"Like a kiss, some acting cute, saying 'Husband, I was wrong.'" Zhou Jinbai looked at Lin Xingwan expectantly, and Lin Xingwan's face turned red at his words.
"You're still injured like this, and your mind is full of such nonsense. Aren't you ashamed?"
"Not ashamed, not ashamed at all. Wife, how long has it been since I kissed you? Do you know how long you've neglected me? I don't care, I want all the kisses and hugs you owe me during this time."
When Zhou Jinbai acted unreasonably, Lin Xingwan was no match for him.
"Wife..." The man's cold eyes were looking at Lin Xingwan with a pitiful and wronged expression.
Especially his weak tone when he spoke, Lin Xingwan didn't know how to refuse.
"We'll talk about it after you're healed." Lin Xingwan glared at Zhou Jinbai.
The man seized the opportunity. "After I'm healed, can I make up for everything I've missed these past few days?"
Lin Xingwan nodded, and Zhou Jinbai happily nuzzled her cheek. "Wife is so good."
The man finally closed his eyes, no longer bothering Lin Xingwan.
"Wife, promise me from now on, no matter what happens, you'll tell me, okay?"
"Okay."
"You have to believe me and don't listen to the instigation of those petty people."
"Mhm, go to sleep now."
"Then can I sleep holding Little Bunny?"
The man's topic jumped so abruptly that Lin Xingwan almost didn't react.
However, Zhou Jinbai had already acted on his intentions.
The man's hands were cold and calloused, giving Lin Xingwan goosebumps.
She instinctively wanted to pull away but was afraid of touching his injuries. Lin Xingwan was caught between moving and not moving.
Zhou Jinbai had calculated that Lin Xingwan wouldn't pull away, and a triumphant smile spread across his handsome face.
"If you want to sleep, sleep properly. How can you sleep like this?" Lin Xingwan knew this man too well. He was usually full of energy, as if he had inexhaustible strength; even without her provocation, he could be as excited as if he had drunk chicken blood. Now that he was doing this, let alone him not being able to sleep, even she couldn't sleep.
Lin Xingwan feigned anger, "Stop messing around and sleep. Otherwise, if your injury doesn't heal properly, it will leave a permanent problem."
How could Zhou Jinbai stop his mischief?
His once clumsy techniques had now been honed to perfection.
Lin Xingwan still wanted to stop Zhou Jinbai, but the man's next words left her speechless.
"Wife, how did the Duan family descendants agree to give you the medicine?" Zhou Jinbai asked.
Lin Xingwan bit her lip tightly, and after a long pause, she mumbled, "They were moved by our love, so they agreed to save you. Maybe it's because I have good character, it must be that."
Zhou Jinbai suspected Lin Xingwan's words, but thinking of the Duan family descendants' unpredictable nature, he still believed some of it.
"Regardless, our misunderstanding is resolved, and we don't have to divorce."
Even though Lin Xingwan had her back to him, she could hear the man's joy and relief in his tone when he said this.
However, Lin Xingwan's heart suddenly felt as if a thousand-pound boulder had been placed upon it.
She didn't know what to say, and finally closed her eyes, letting the man do as he pleased.
Lin Xingwan didn't even know how she fell asleep. She only felt her eyelids growing heavier. Even with the man's breathing becoming more erratic behind her, she couldn't pay attention.
For the next few days, Lin Xingwan stayed by Zhou Jinbai's side in the hospital.
He was recovering well and could already get out of bed and walk.
During this time, Zhou Bingwen visited Zhou Jinbai several times. As for Zhou Jinbai's mother, Meng Chuzheng, Lin Xingwan hadn't seen her since their last encounter.
Zhou Bingwen was very concerned about Zhou Jinbai, playing chess and chatting with him, and reminiscing about events from when Zhou Jinbai's father was alive.
Lin Xingwan listened to some of it and learned that Zhou Jinbai's father was named Zhou Nianqing, and he was a famous figure in Yanjing during his lifetime.
He was not only an outstanding leader of the Dongfang family but also a prince charming in the hearts of countless women.
Zhou Nianqing's popularity reached an unprecedented level. Because he was young, handsome, and excellent, he had experienced the most kidnappings from those who coveted his beauty.
Not only did crazy women want to possess him, but even some men with ulterior motives had set their sights on Zhou Nianqing.
And Zhou Nianqing's tragedy began when he met Meng Chuzheng.
Their encounter was also melodramatic.
Zhou Nianqing, who was out for a stroll, rescued Meng Chuzheng from being almost molested and then hired her as his secretary.
Zhou Nianqing had fallen in love with Meng Chuzheng at first sight, and during their subsequent time together, he became even more infatuated.
To be with Meng Chuzheng, Zhou Nianqing did not hesitate to break off his engagement and marry Meng Chuzheng against his family's wishes.
He doted on Meng Chuzheng to the extreme, turning a blind eye even to her mistakes.
"If it weren't for that wicked woman Meng Chuzheng, my brother would never have died so tragically. If she had any conscience, she wouldn't have turned around and married the murderer of my brother after his death."
Zhou Bingwen's face was full of indignation, and the hatred in his eyes was so intense that he loathed Meng Chuzheng to the core.
He had even forgotten that he was playing chess with Zhou Jinbai. If the chess piece in his hand had been of poorer quality, it might have shattered.
He had initially been calmly reminiscing about the past with Zhou Jinbai, but as he recalled, the painful memories resurfaced, and Zhou Bingwen could no longer control his emotions.
"Why are you bringing up these things? That ungrateful woman will face retribution one day." The old lady sitting beside them, upon hearing her son's words, her expression was no longer as kind as before.
"Let's not talk about the past. I will avenge my father." Zhou Jinbai also disliked this topic. Even though that woman gave him life, their relationship had been strained for years.
This was also why, apart from Lin Xingwan, he had never been moved by any other woman all these years.
Meng Chuzheng's actions made her unworthy of being a wife, a mother, or a daughter-in-law.
"Jinbai, although we all hope you will avenge your father, the most important thing is for you to be well. Don't let hatred blind you; this is an old grievance from the previous generation."
Zhou Bingwen looked at his nephew's bloodshot eyes and couldn't help but speak.
"I know what I'm doing, Uncle." Zhou Jinbai suppressed all his emotions and spoke again. "I'm a bit tired and want to rest. If Uncle and Grandma have nothing else, please leave for now."
"Then we'll come to see you tomorrow. You rest well, and put other matters aside for now." The old lady knew her grandson was feeling upset and couldn't help but comfort him.
Zhou Jinbai nodded, and Zhou Bingwen then helped the old lady leave.
As they walked outside the ward, the old lady complained, "Bingwen, you know how much Jinbai cares about his father's affairs. Don't bring it up in front of him again and again. Jinbai knows what he's doing; he's a child who has suffered a lot."
Zhou Bingwen smiled humbly. "Mother, you are right. I won't say it again next time."
No one noticed the fleeting hatred in Zhou Bingwen's eyes.
In the ward.
Lin Xingwan was tidying up the chessboard, but Zhou Jinbai reached out and pulled her into his arms.
Lin Xingwan stumbled onto his lap. Startled, she quickly tried to get up but was held tightly around the waist by the man.
The man rested his face on Lin Xingwan's body. Even without speaking, Lin Xingwan could feel his low mood.
This was a rare moment of vulnerability Zhou Jinbai had shown her. Lin Xingwan knew it was because of his father. She placed one hand on Zhou Jinbai's back and gently stroked the back of his head with the other, comforting him.
Zhou Jinbai's mind was filled with thoughts. He remembered seeing his father's body, which was so fragmented that it couldn't be pieced together. His father had promised him that if he got first place in the entire grade, he would give him a unique gift in the world.
But when he actually got first place in the entire grade, the person who had made the promise had disappeared.
Some regrets would haunt a person for a lifetime, forever binding them to a dark abyss.
"Don't think about those things. Since it has already happened, we are powerless to change it. The only thing we can do is live well." Lin Xingwan remembered what Duan Muxing had told her. Zhou Jinbai at least knew who his enemy was, but what about her...
"Wife, can you kiss me?" Zhou Jinbai looked up at Lin Xingwan with deep affection and anticipation.
He looked like a puppy begging for its owner's affection, and no woman could refuse his request.
Lin Xingwan cupped Zhou Jinbai's face with both hands and then kissed his forehead.
"Don't kiss my forehead, kiss my lips." Zhou Jinbai would not be satisfied with Lin Xingwan's perfunctory kiss; he wanted more.
Lin Xingwan kissed Zhou Jinbai's lips. Just as she was about to pull away, the man forcefully held the back of her head, and their simple kiss turned into a deep one.
He held her tightly, greedily taking in her breath.
Although they had kissed several times in the past week, Lin Xingwan's lips were too sweet, and Zhou Jinbai could never get enough of kissing them.
Lin Xingwan gently pushed against him. Why was this man kissing more fiercely?
Lin Xingwan didn't even realize when she had gone from sitting on his lap to lying on the hospital bed.
Zhou Jinbai pressed against her, his desire surging. Their eyes met, his gaze filled with unconcealed longing.
"Wife, I want you." The man's hoarse voice was incredibly seductive, his eyes moist, and his gaze openly desirous.